Firefighters honored by selectmen

SWANSEA — The Board of Selectmen honored firefighters who saved a family whose water craft had capsized off Bay Point on April 6.

Comment

By BILL HALL

southcoasttoday.com

By BILL HALL

Posted Jun. 19, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By BILL HALL
Posted Jun. 19, 2014 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

SWANSEA — The Board of Selectmen honored firefighters who saved a family whose water craft had capsized off Bay Point on April 6.

Firefighters, Captain Nicholas Emard and Benjamin Emard of Station 3, Daniel Boardman of Station 2 and Brett Medeiros of Station 1 were honored along with Deputy Chief Eric Hajder, for their efforts during the afternoon rescue. Deputy Chief Hajder was the acting chief while Chief Peter Burke was on vacation.

Chief Burke appeared before the Board of Selectmen last Tuesday evening in praise of his men who responded and reached the husband, wife and their young child in 11 minutes from the call. The chief pointed out that the department does regular water rescue training and, thanks to support of the selectmen Advisory and Finance Board and town meeting voters, were able to secure two motors that worked very well. He pointed out that the former motors had difficulty starting up at times, particularly in the colder weather.

The chief noted that the air temperature was 45 degrees and the water was between 40 and 45 degrees with a 10 mile per hour wind when the rescue took place. He did not know how many more minutes the family had before suffering hypothermia, but the rescue had to be timely.

While the firefighters had survival suits, the family did not.

Fall River and Somerset were also called in to assist but the Swansea rescuers were able to get to the location in choppy waters. Further complicating the situation was that, because it was early in the season, there were no other boaters on the water who could have come to the rescue of the family.

Selectman Robert Marquis pointed out how amazing the firefighters were in not only making the rescue, but being able to get to the station and into the water as fast as they did.

Chief Burke noted that a fire truck towed the 17 foot rescue boat and the driver was able to maneuver the boat at the ramp in the first try.